Southland Preview / The Business Week Ahead

Los Angeles County

Fashion Industry Seeks to Mend: Even as the image of the Los Angeles fashion industry suffers under charges that immigrant garment workers were detained against their will in an El Monte sweatshop, garment trade leaders plan to meet this week to address industry concerns and unveil plans for a major new trade show scheduled for Los Angeles next year. The New California Apparel Assn., an industry task force formed in April, gathers Tuesday in its second board meeting. Issues to be discussed include how to encourage broader compliance with labor laws. Those within the industry say the El Monte case is an extreme example of labor violations that continue to plague the industry. Meanwhile, more than 150 fashion industry leaders will meet Thursday, when Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan will announce details about Look, an international sportswear show to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in March. The event will be sponsored by the CaliforniaMart with the city's support. The show is an attempt to restore Los Angeles as a major stop for department store and specialty store buyers, said Megan Griffith, the show's manager.